Under Mount Jinping in Sichuan Province, China, is hidden a scientific facility known as the China Jinping Underground Laboratory (CJPL).
This underground laboratory has been renovated and expanded. Making it the largest and deepest underground physics facility in the world.
At a depth of 2,400 meters below the surface, CJPL is dedicated to one of the greatest quests in modern science: solving the mysteries of Dark Matter.
Extreme depth as a natural shield
The depth of 2,400 meters under a layer of solid rock is no coincidence. This extreme depth serves as a natural shield against the cosmic rays (high-energy particles from outer space) that constantly bombard the Earth.
Cosmic rays can interfere with scientific experiments that require very quiet environmental conditions.
At this depth, cosmic ray interference is drastically reduced, creating an ultra-low background radiation environment that is perfect for detecting extremely elusive particles.
Hunting for dark matter
The main goal of CJPL is to facilitate experiments that search for evidence of the existence of Dark Matter. Dark Matter is estimated to make up about 85% of the total mass of the universe, but it does not emit light or interact electromagnetically, making it invisible and mysterious.
Within the expanded CJPL, scientists run a series of sensitive experiments, such as:
- WIMP Search: They search for WIMPs (Weakly Interacting Massive Particles), which are the main candidates for Dark Matter, using very cold and sensitive detectors of crystals and noble liquids.
- Neutrino Physics: This laboratory is also used for in-depth studies of neutrinos, sub-atomic particles that have very small masses.
CJPL’s expansion has increased its volume to more than 330,000 cubic meters. This increase in scale allows researchers to install more detectors with much higher sensitivity. That increases their chances of eventually detecting Dark Matter.
Global giant laboratory
CJPL status puts China at the forefront of the global race to discover Dark Matter. The facility provides an unparalleled environment, allowing scientists to perform experiments with precision previously unattainable in shallow laboratories.
Success in detecting and understanding Dark Matter will not only solve a major mystery in physics, but also revolutionize our understanding of the evolution and structure of the universe.
Source: kilasanberita.id, space.com, people.cn, globaltimes.cn, news.cn
